A Teaching Plan on Photosynthesis in the Elementary 4th Grade on the Basis of a Surveying Study

Abstract

The author has conducted a surveying study through 16 schools (1330 pupils in the 4th grade, 519 pupils in the 5th grade), by assuming 6 hypotheses. According to the findings of the study, he suggests the following items as effective activities in order to improve the concept formation of photosynthesis by pupils. 1. To compare the amount of the newly produced potatoes with that of the seed potato. 2. To study the change of the amount of the starch in the process of germination and growth. 3. To detect assimilation starch in leaves by heating green juice extracted from green leaves. 4. To compare assimilation starch production of water cultured plants with that of plants in the field. By this procedure we may be able to make pupils aware of the existence of the starch in leaves. On this occasion it might be effective to ask pupils whether starch may transfer from potatoes to leaves or not. Finally the author has proposed an appropriate plan for teaching "The Growth of Potatoes".